Square Enix Planning More Mobile Dragon Quest Releases Very Soon

Square Enix has confirmed to Game Informer that it will be releasing more classic Dragon Quest titles on mobile platforms. The publisher plans to start with the original Dragon Quest in just a few weeks.

The publisher recently released Dragon Quest IV and Dragon Quest VIII for mobile devices. The latter title originally appeared on PlayStation 2 and provided the most challenge so far given its 360 degree camera.

The upcoming release of Dragon Quest will be based on the most recent Japanese remake and not the NES Dragon Warrior. Following that, Dragon Quest 2 and Dragon Quest 3 will be released over the subsequent two or three months.

One title will be a significant challenge for the team, though. According to Dragon Quest mobile producer Noriyoshi Fujimoto, Dragon Quest 7 is currently "technically impossible" due to an enormous amount of text. The fifth and sixth titles should be much easier to bring to mobile platforms.

As for bringing massive RPGs to mobile devices, Fujimoto and his team scaled back the encounter rate and increased the earned experience to speed progress. They've also added more frequent saving and a streamlined menu system so players can enjoy the game in shorter bursts.

The question is whether mobile RPGs will catch on in the same way they have in Japan. Square Enix is invested in mobile, and the audience is there at home. But we'll leave it you to decide whether this is a way you want to experience 50-hour epic tales.